New Delhi (Agency): The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF), representing 26 key tribal communities, has urged the Law Commission of India to exclude Arunachal state from implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
In a letter to the Commission, the AITF highlighted that Arunachal Pradesh, with its 26 major tribes and more than 100 sub-tribes, possesses a unique tribal culture, tradition, dialects, belief system, and ethos. The AITF stressed that the constitutional protection given to the state’s social system, customary laws, and customary rights should remain intact.
The letter read, “We have no objection to the implementation of UCC in the mainland of the country except in Arunachal Pradesh because of its unique demography & topography and its prevailing social system… (The state) should be kept outside the purview of UCC implementation.”
The UCC is a set of common laws related to marriage, divorce, and inheritance, which would apply to all Indian citizens, regardless of religion, tribe, or local customs.
On June 14, the Law Commission started a new consultation process on the UCC. This process seeks opinions from stakeholders, which include the public and recognized religious organizations, about this politically sensitive topic.
